TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH

Use the sun’s infra-red rays to cook a potato

Suitable For

Grade 4

Difficulty

2

Time Required

<2 Days

Supervision

Advised

What’s it about?

One way people sometimes describe a really hot day is to say, ‘It’s so hot, you could fry an egg on the ground.’ Infra-red rays from the sun can be used to cook food in a similar way to how a microwave oven cooks food.

This is called cooking with ‘solar energy’ and we will study this in the following science experiment by making our own ‘solar cooker’:

Topics covered

Solar energy, Radiation, Infra-red rays

What will I need?

SMALL POTATO

ALUMINIUM FOIL

METAL BOWL

STICKY TAPE

FORK

Procedure (Method)

Unfortunately, this section is only available in the e-book version of the project.

How does it work?

Unfortunately, this section is only available in the e-book version of the project.

The science experiment works because the aluminium foil reflects the sun’s rays like a mirror and concentrates them on the potato. The heat from the rays then warms the potato, and will eventually cook it through to the centre if it is cooked long enough and the sun is hot enough.

Like the sound of it?

Why not check out the full worksheet in one of our popular e-books?

This particular science project can be found in any of the following Experiland e-books:

A project introduction and background, complete listing of required materials, step-by-step instructions on how to carry out the project, why it works, learn more section, as well as a science glossary with all the relevant terms make up each of the all-inclusive science project worksheets in our e-books!